Review: Attack of the Mousers
So here we go again, this time with TMNT 2003. They released Disney+ in Finland during the week and I’ve been watching some Disney movies for whole day, I think it’s a good thing to take a break and watch something else I enjoy – that being TMNT. I especially enjoy watching this version of TMNT because it feels so nostalgic being the show I grew up with. Don’t get me wrong I do love me some 2012 show as well, but there’s just something about this version 2012 didn’t get right – and not just what the later seasons did with my childhood hero, April. But we get to that when we get to that.
I’m not saying, 2003 show doesn’t have problems, it does, especially during later seasons, but for now let’s just enjoy both shows for what they are.
For the plot it’s fairly simple: April wakes up in the lair after events of the last episode, where she is introduced to the turtles and Splinter. After being in denial for a bit, she accepts this is probably the weirdest thing that has ever happened to her and we are told the origins of the turtles. 15 years ago, they were just normal tiny turtles who were exposed by mysterious ooze after ending up in the sewers. Splinter who was living in the sewers took pity on the turtles and decided to take them along – getting exposed by the ooze in the process. We all know the story from this point: Ooze changed them and the turtles got their names from famous renaissance artists. Splinter taught their ninjutsu but lefts out the bit how he came to know martial arts himself.
This story is followed by a news broadcast about bank robbery taking place earlier. Turtles recognize foot prints made by M.O.U.S.E. R’s which leads to April figuring out what her former boss, Stockman used the robots for – robbing banks. Turtles decide to pay Stockman a visit but doing so they need April’s help as she used to work there.
While Stockman appears very pleased with his robots, his boss is not as pleased. He reminds doctor Stockman to not fail him because if he does, there will be consequences. When the night falls April takes the turtles to Stockcronics via sewers, turtles help April to gain access to the main computer and April shuts the cameras as our heroes are on their way to Stockman. Thinking they are intruders Stockman plans of disposing them, but turtles don’t make that easy for him, as they manage to corner our doctor fairly easily. Stockman alerts his M.O.U.S.E. R’s and gets away as April is trying to shut the system down but has little luck in doing so. Instead she manages to overload their programming which causes M.O.U.S.E. R’s to explode. Turtles escape with April while Stockman runs into troubles of his own – with his boss, who isn’t too happy with him.
April having lost her job isn’t entirely sure what she’s going to do next but rest is assured: Turtles have gained a new ally for themselves. Doctor Stockman however isn’t quite as lucky…
What I liked about this episode:
+ Interaction between Raph and Mikey. I liked how their bond as brothers was shown – Raph teasing Mikey every now and then but when things get serious you can tell he really does care about his youngest brother. And way it was done was really sweet.
+ April and Donnie. In general, I quite enjoyed April’s character in this episode but if I had to pick what I really liked about this episode in general, it would be her interaction with Donatello. They have a reason to interact here and it came out naturally.
+ Action movie lines. Yep, 2012 Leo isn’t the only one guilty of them, his 2003 counterpart (as well as Raph) has his moment (in this episode) at least.
+ April getting to meet Splinter. I know this might not be such a big deal but since we didn’t get to see April meeting Splinter for the first time in 2012 show, it made me appreciate this scene a lot more than I thought possible. While their relationship in 2012 series is nothing but flat, this is in one way iconic scene and I wish 2012 show had included it.
+ Menacing presence that is the big bad. I don’t want to say too much about him, just in case someone reading this hasn’t seen the show, but Shredder in this show means business. While 2012 series had very ominous presence, this Shredder shows he isn’t all talk right when he’s on screen. If you don’t believe me, just look at Stockman next time he appears (and that is not the worst he’s going to get).
What I didn’t like about the episode:
I’m trying to find something I didn’t like, okay?
- As an episode this was pretty good one, not the best 2003 has to offer but not the worst either. Sure, they could’ve focused on action bit more – I felt like the action scenes came fast and were done almost as soon as there was some action involved.
- I also found M.O.U.S.E. R’s robbing banks as very generic plot point, I know what its purpose was, but it still felt bit bland to me. Then again this is a show from early 2000’s…
As for Back in my day…
I remember watching this episode from TV when it first aired, but I don’t have any memories about it, other than it aired on Sunday morning and that I made sure to see the whole thing.
The dubbing is… decent. It’s not as bad as the last episode, but it’s not as good as the original. It starts with April not really sounding like her voice actress (Elise Langenoja) is acting for the first lines she’s delivering, but after that it gets better. It’s not perfect but better than in the last episode. I should probably mention we have a lot of repeating voices such as Raine Heiskanen, who voices both Donatello and Shredder during the first season, Arto Nieminen who voices Baxter Stockman and Hun and Pauli Virta who voices Raphael and some minor characters in season 1 – like the bank manager in this episode.
Some do better job better when doing these “double voices” as I like to call them. Pauli Virta for example does a solid voice for Raph but as the bank manager, you can still hear it’s the same voice actor even if the voice itself is softer. Then we come to those that pull it off much better. One of them being Raine Heiskanen, who I just found out voiced both kind-hearted Donnie and ominous Shredder. I literally couldn’t tell they were voiced by a same person. When it comes to Shredder, he does have smoother voice, that can still sound threatening when the situation calls for it, so that’s a plus. Who however ended up surprising me was Arto Nieminen as Hun. Honestly, I thought they had different actors but no. They are voiced by the same person and it’s something you can’t necessarily pick out. I must say I quite like Hun’s Finnish voice, while not as deep as Greg Carey but for what it’s worth I think he is the best voice actor for Hun in the Finnish dub, as he really sounds the part. It’s too bad they replaced him after season one, I kind of feel other picks for the part didn’t sound as good as Hun as the first one did.
….Then again I seem to remember this one losing his shine on the character later on… :/
If I were to complain about couple of things I would for one tell you that the weakest part of when it comes to Finnish dub, it would be Ari Wirta as Mikey, as much as I love this version of Mikey and how he sounds, it felt at times like he was just reading his lines instead of actually acting – such as the scene where Stockman escapes the turtles. He didn’t really sound like someone doing an action scene, just a dude talking.
Another complaint would go for the translation. Some of the translation choices felt odd, but I think it mostly came down with lip syncing the lines. However, there’s one line I think translators didn’t really understand. It would be the one where turtles are cornered by M.O.U.S.E. R’s, Mikey and Raph have these lines:
Raph: This is it. It’s been fun guys. Mikey: Even me, Raph? Raph: Even you, Mikey. Especially you.
I really like that scene, because while Raph is impulsive hot head who loves to tease Mikey, this scene shows he really does love his youngest brother even if he doesn’t always show it.
Yet in the Finnish dub he merely says “Even you, Mikey. You were fun” and the way he says it, still sounds like Raph is teasing him. I think they didn’t really understand what Raph actually meant or were too lazy to translate it correctly. Maybe I’m reading too much into this. ._.
Anyway, this review took less time I thought, which is a good thing mainly because next time I’ll be reviewing one of my favorite episodes from TMNT 2012, so stay tuned for that!
But first have some screenshots.
April meeting Mikey.
..And she is not having this. She must be asleep right?
April meets Raph.
And here she’s meeting all of them. I really like this scene though!
....Especially because we get to see April meeting Splinter.
...This is her reaction.
“You have a way with ladies, sensei” - I swear Donnie has the best lines.
Raph waking up Mikey.
We are in for a story!
TCRI... where have I seen that logo before?
Splinter finding the turtles.
I’ve always thought the turtle Splinter is holding here is Mikey.
I said I liked character interactions in this episode? Did I mention I liked interactions between April and Raph?
April and turtles watching TV.
April taking charge. I really really love April here. She already seems like she’s part of the gang, not because she’s some damsel but because she knows what she’s doing. Not because she wants action but because it is the right thing to do.
Introducing Donnie.
Here’s Stockman arguing with someone.
April and Donnie working together. Did I mention I love these two in this version?
...What? I really like this screenshot of April. (You couldn’t tell she’s one of my absolute favorite characters?)
Turtles sneaking into Stockcronics.
Ready for action.
“What are you?”
Stockman being cornered by the turtles and April.
Raph roughing up Stockman.
April trying to help with the M.O.U.S.E.R situation.
Cornered by M.O.U.S.E.R’s.
Mikey holding M.O.U.S.E.R.
Stockman running into Hun.
More April and Donnie.
April officially becomes part of the gang!
Meanwhile Stockman is trying to explain himself out of the trouble.
..But his boss isn’t having it.
Stockman realizing he’s in big trouble. You might want to remember his face for the next time we’ll see him on screen.
Stockman’s boss witnessing the last image M.O.U.S.E.R’s were able to see.
...Something tells me the turtles have gained a new enemy.